Archived: St. Andrew’s Church Building Fund: Our 860 year old Church is in desperate need of exterior stonework repair to protect the interior fabric of the church from further damage

About the projectorgins

St. Andrew’s Church is located in the small parish of Dalton-Le-Dale, near Seaham, County Durham.

We have a small congregation of aging but committed parishioners, however our ability to fundraise is limited.

We have tried several small local fundraisers, but are hoping to gain your support to achieve our goal and restore our beautiful church.

– Repair includes replacing 12 large stones and repointing every stone on the entire building, with a lime based mortar.

Although it is recognised the church building dates from the 12th and 13th century, evidence has been found of a late 8th/early 9th century cross shaft build into the south wall, suggesting that it stands on a considerably earlier site.

St Andrew’s has many unique features which we would like to protect. Examples include an effigy of Sir Willaim Bowes-Lyon dating from early 15th century who was an ancestor of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Also a sundial above the porch reputed to be one of the oldest in the country. There are also Roman numerals on the north wall which are purported to show the time of day from an aperture in the roof previous to a new roof erected in the early 1900’s.

Folklore has it that during the reformation the church was saved from destuction by Cromwell, as it was hidden from view by the large chestnut tree which still stands within the grounds today. Evidence of the church’s previous Roman Catholic origins still exsit in the form of a stone sited inside the south door which held the sacrements.

This parish Church from which you can ask for your babies to be baptised, your family to be married, your last resting place before you are buried or cremated. St. Andrews, is the place you can come to find peace.

Please find it in your heart to help us on this journey of restoring this beautiful historic building within your community to preseve this part of history for future generations.

No matter how small, is a step towards us achieving our goal.

All donations greatly received will be issued a receipt for tax purposes, should it be required.